Not Your Average Lunch Lady

"They say an army moves on its stomach. At Canyon, our staff and students are on the move with 'Margo Power," said Canyon Middle School Principal Mark Croghan.

Margo Howard, that is.

A nutrition worker at the school for 14 years, Howard is one of six people that state schools superintendent Tom Torlakson today named school employees of the year.

The award goes to "classified" emloyees, a term for non-teaching staff.

“California’s classified school employees are the unsung heroes of our schools," Torlakson said. "We cannot thank them enough for the work they do for California’s schoolchildren.”

The annual program honors six outstanding, each representing one of the following categories: child nutrition, maintenance and operations, office and technical support, para-educator and instructional assistance, support services and security, and transportation.

Howard's official job title is cafeteria lead worker. Under her leadership the kitchen area is maintained to the highest standards, and all foods are fresh, healthy, and prepared under strict guidelines, Croghan said.

"Her team greets every student by name with a smile," Croghan said. “Margo Howard is the heart and soul of Canyon Middle School."

Serving more than 800 meals a day in two half-hour shifts, five days a week, requires tremendous organization, Croghan said.

The other winners this year were from the following counties: Orange, Contra Costa, San Bernardino County, Shasta and San Mateo.

Seventy-three applicants from 20 counties competed for the 2011 awards. Each of the awardees underwent a county and state review process. At the state level, applications were reviewed by a team of job category experts, including at least one member representing local educational agency administration, one member representing employee groups, and one member provided by the California Department of Education who reviewed the candidates on the basis of at least five years of service in their nomination category. The candidate evaluation was organized around four themes: work performance, school/community involvement, leadership and commitment, and service above and beyond.

Torlakson will formally honor the six award recipients on May 16 at a recognition luncheon he is hosting in Sacramento. The luncheon coincides with California's observation of the Classified School Employee Week, May 16-20, 2011.

The California Classified School Employee of the Year Award is sponsored by the CDE in partnership with the California School Employees Association, Service Employees International Union, California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers, Association of California School Administrators, California School Boards Association, and business and industry organizations.

For more information on the California Classified School Employee of the Year program, please visit the CDE Web site at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/sr/cl/index.asp